Before purchasing Tong Sam Gyup Goo Yi, Choong Gyun Jung was a self-proclaimed Giluk. According to Mr. Jung, a giluk is a title given to fathers who live alone in Korea in order to make money to send to their families living abroad, usually in America. During a business trip to America, he attended a hwaeshik, or business dinner, at Tong Sam Gyup Goo Yi. In a drunken stupor he proclaimed that he would buy this restaurant if the owner ever decided to sell.

One day this former Regional Manager for Hanjin Group, parent company to Korean Air, received a call from the former owner of Tong Sam Gyup Goo Yi, imploring him to keep his promise.

After weeks of intense arguing, Mr. Jung surprisingly relented and decided to purchase the restaurant in order to move to America and be with his family. He became the new owner of Tong Sam Gyup Goo Yi and no longer self-identifies as a “Giluk.”

As of May 2022, Tong Sam Gyup Goo Yi is under new ownership.